A 100g round of “red flavor” — Hong Yun Yuan Cha is DaYi's pocket-sized daily shou, sweet and smooth.
Tea Profile
At a glance: 2012 · Ripe (shou/shu) puerh · 100g cake · Menghai Tea Factory
- Compression & dry leaf: This tea is sold as a 100g cake. Breaking it open reveals an even, dark fermentation.
- Liquor: It brews a bright, red liquor, with a thick look.
- Taste: The first infusions are mellow. As the session goes on, it shows notes of caramel and a sweet and rich profile.
- Mouthfeel & body: The body comes across as thick, full-bodied and smooth.
- Aftertaste: A gentle sweetness usually stays after each cup.
- Best for: everyday drinking in relaxed daily sessions, and a good pick for first-time puerh drinkers.
Brewing Guide
- Water: fully boiling, 100°C (212°F).
- How to brew:
- Add around 5g of tea for every 100ml.
- Give the leaves two quick rinses — cover with boiling water for about 5 seconds and discard. Then put the lid on and leave the leaves to open up for about 10 minutes.
- Start with 10–15 second steeps, lengthening by about 5 seconds each round.
- Pour the liquor into a sharing pitcher.
- Serve and resteep — ripe puerh goes many rounds.
- Think of this as a starting point rather than a rigid method. Try pouring high or low, fast or slow, and adapt to the season until it suits you. Brewing one tea at its best in any year, season, weather or place is a skill built over time — and that is the real goal.
Storage
Keep it in a ventilated, cool, dry spot, shielded from sunlight and strong odors (cooking spices, cigarette smoke). If you plan to age it long-term, paper or clay containers breathe better than airtight plastic.
A Note on Appearance
Not all cakes develop these — the chances simply rise with longer storage.
- Small dark specks: naturally stored puerh can develop tiny dark specks on its wrapper or edges. They are harmless and brush off easily before brewing.
- Tea oil spots: yellowish spotting can occur from natural tea oils. This is not a flaw.
- Torn wrapper: minor tears or holes in the cotton wrapper sometimes happen in storage and transit. The tea itself is unaffected.
